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Shloka 27

Characteristics of the King and His Servants

Rāja-dharma, Nīti, and Ethical Revenue

Devanagari script

कारणेन विना भृत्ये यस्तु कुप्यति पार्थिवः / स गृह्णाति विषोन्मादं कृष्णसर्पविसर्जितम्

Transliteration

kāraṇena vinā bhṛtye yastu kupyati pārthivaḥ / sa gṛhṇāti viṣonmādaṃ kṛṣṇasarpavisarjitam

Translation

Ein König, der ohne gerechten Grund seinem Diener zürnt, zieht sich einen Rausch des Giftes zu—gleich dem Gift, das eine schwarze Schlange freisetzt.

Word by Word
कारणेनwith/for a reason
कारणेन:
Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
TypeNoun
Rootकारण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन
विनाwithout
विना:
Negation/Exclusion (वर्जन)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootविना (अव्यय)
Formउपपद-अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable) governing तृतीया/पञ्चमी; here तृतीया
भृत्येtowards/with regard to a servant
भृत्ये:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootभृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन
यःwho
यः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)
तुbut/indeed
तु:
Discourse particle (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formविरोध/अनुवाद-निपात (but/indeed)
कुप्यतिgets angry
कुप्यति:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√कुप् (धातु)
Formलट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
पार्थिवःthe king
पार्थिवः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootपार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
सःhe
सः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; निर्देश (demonstrative pronoun)
गृह्णातिincurs/receives
गृह्णाति:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√ग्रह् (धातु)
Formलट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
विष-उन्मादम्poison-madness (delirium)
विष-उन्मादम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootविष (प्रातिपदिक) + उन्माद (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (विषस्य उन्मादः)
कृष्ण-सर्प-विसर्जितम्released/inflicted by a black snake
कृष्ण-सर्प-विसर्जितम्:
Adjective of object (कर्मविशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootकृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + सर्प (प्रातिपदिक) + विसर्जित (वि+√सृज्, क्त-कृदन्त)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कृष्णसर्पेण विसर्जितम् = emitted/inflicted by a black serpent)
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A king who becomes angry at a servant without cause suffers a poison-like madness, likened to black-serpent venom—anger harms the wielder.

Vedantic Theme: Krodha as a tamasic distortion that veils buddhi; adharma rebounds upon the agent (karma).

Application: Leaders should require due cause and inquiry before reprimand; cultivate anger-management and procedural fairness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: court/administration

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: nīti counsel on restraint, just punishment, and avoiding arbitrary cruelty

FAQs

This verse frames unjust anger—especially by those in power—as a self-destructive poison, implying karmic and psychological downfall when anger is indulged without cause.

While not describing the afterlife directly, it highlights a karmic principle: wrongful conduct by rulers (unjust wrath) creates demerit that can shape future suffering and negative destinies.

Do not punish or shame subordinates without evidence or reason; practice measured responses, due process, and compassionate leadership to avoid harm to others and oneself.

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